Fans of Indian arch-rivals Mohun Bagan SG and East Bengal FC have decided to set aside their differences and unite together for a common cause as they took to the streets of Kolkata in solidarity towards rape and murder victim Moumita Debnath on Sunday.
Debnath, a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College, was found dead on August 9th with signs of sexual assault and strangulation on her body, in a case that outraged not only India, but also the world.
News of Debnath’s rape and murder sparked protests all over India, with the city of Kolkata being no exception. The protests within Kolkata forced security to cancel the hotly-anticipated derby between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, set to be played on August 18th at the famous Salt Lake Stadium, as part of this year’s Durand Cup.
For context, the Kolkata Derby – known locally as the Boro Match – was considered as one of Asia’s fiercest rivalries and one of the biggest football derbies in the world, with its stature matching with the likes of Spain’s El Clasico and Argentina’s Superclásico. The rivalry attracted crowds amounting to 100,000 people and represents the two major groups of Kolkata’s population, with Mohun Bagan representing the western part of Bengal, the “nativist” population of Kolkata, while East Bengal, as their name suggested, represented the eastern part of Bengal, the “immigrant” population of Kolkata.
Despite Sunday’s match being cancelled, fans of both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal gathered around the Salt Lake Stadium. Proudly wearing their colors and braving the intermittent rain, the two sets of fans brought placards and posters containing slogan demanding justice for Debnath and her family.
A third set of football fans, clad in black-and-white, joined the group later in the day. They were fans of Mohammedan SC, Kolkata’s third club that represented the city’s Muslim population.
Together, the three fan groups marched their way into the streets, their rivalry being forgotten for the time being as they were united by the same core concern. They demanded that the police would perform a thorough investigation into Debnath’s case, as well as raising awareness towards the safety of women within India.
However, as soon as the crowd arrived at the EM Bypass, they were chased by policemen wielding canes, which led to several of the fans being arrested and detained.
“Before Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, we are Indians. Atrocity has happened against an Indian woman. We were protesting peacefully here. But the police started a baton charge,” said an anonymous protester, as quoted from Hindustan Times.
Speaking in solidarity towards the late Debnath and her family, Mohun Bagan captain Subhasish Bose had this to say, “Certainly we demand punishment for all those involved in the savage assault and rape of the woman doctor who was on night duty at her workplace. She had to undergo unimaginable assault and was killed in the most brutal manner. I hope no other woman has to go through this ordeal.”
Kalyan Chaubey, the president of the All India Football Federation, slammed the police’s treatment of the protesters, saying, “The first derby match of the season was scheduled to be held today but was cancelled. Even if half the number of policemen deployed here to keep a check on the protesters were deputed to oversee the security during the match, it would have taken place. I believe that football is not involved in any politics, it is above all religion and caste.”
The 2024 Durand Cup sees matches being played at several centralized locations – Kolkata, Shillong, Jamshedpur, and Kokrajhar. The matches set to be played in Kolkata are now being relocated to Jamshedpur in the light of security concerns regarding the protests at the city.